Ugly Houses Are Sitting Pretty with Over 100 New Franchisees

DALLAS, Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- HomeVestors, the nation's largest buyer of homes, is setting new records in 2012, including the sale of more than 100 new franchisees in a single year. On course to bring home a record year, company sales are up 30 percent. HomeVestors also is reporting that purchase closings have been strong throughout the country.

"HomeVestors is recognized for offering extensive training, ongoing operations support and energized marketing programs that guide our franchise owners' success," said HomeVestors co-president Ken Channell. "Also we've seen a real uptick in activity by our HomeVestors® franchisees who understand the tremendous opportunity there is in the business of buying homes as rental properties."

HomeVestors of America, Inc. was founded in 1996 and celebrates 16 years in business in 2012. Company co-president David Hicks points out that the franchise milestone is particularly notable because so much of HomeVestors' growth has been achieved in the last few years. "In our 16 years in business, this is by far our biggest year in new franchise sales. This is a testament to the interest in real estate investing and the power of our We Buy Ugly Houses® brand," he said.

Known as the "We Buy Ugly Houses®" company, the HomeVestors business model is based on its independently owned and operated franchisees buying "ugly" houses, improving their distressed properties and either reselling them or managing them as rental properties. In 2012, for the seventh consecutive year, HomeVestors was among Franchise Business Review's "Top 50 Franchises."

Added Channell, "The number of additional new franchisees shows that investors continue to believe that there is opportunity in the real estate market nationwide."

About HomeVestors of America, Inc.Dallas-based HomeVestors of America, Inc. is the largest buyer of houses in the U.S., with 50,000 houses bought since 1996. HomeVestors trains and supports its independently owned and operated franchisees that specialize in buying and rehabbing residential properties. Most commonly known as the "We Buy Ugly Houses®" company, HomeVestors strives to make a positive impact in each community. In 2012, for the seventh consecutive year, HomeVestors was among the prestigious Franchise Business Review's "Top 50 Franchises," a distinction awarded to franchisors with the highest level of franchisee satisfaction. For more information, visit www.HomeVestors.com.